I have a pink eye as of the writing of this column and it sucks dramatically. It’s not painful, but it’s just a drag to deal with. It’s not the only thing I need to worry about. My responsibilities have been my main focus for the last couple of days. Of course, this is just a minor health issue, but wrecks my daily life by throwing it for a loop.
Sickness comes in many forms that can harm our important body parts. As children, we saw the idea of being sick as a mini vacation. We got to relax for a few days and enjoy the comfort of home. Parents brought breakfast and bubblegum-flavored medicine while the television played cartoons that would be missed during school hours. It felt great, as there was no need to get up early in the morning, get to class and be ready for the day’s agenda. On top of that, the love from our family was the best feeling to have during our lowest points.
Unfortunately, times changed when middle and high school came around. Our workloads were increased alongside circular activities that would take up most of the day.
A few sick days as a child pales compared to one day as a teenager because it would be the equivalent of missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime event. Every other day at school would be normal as usual, but the second a sick day came, suddenly there were pizza parties, Taylor Swift held a concert and no homework for those who attended.
It didn’t feel any better at home as parents would see us as more grown. That bubblegum medicine is out the window, replaced with the most gag-inducing flavor of the decade, and we had to force ourselves to go to school unless we were on our deathbed.
Now in college, medicine is the same, but things change again. We no longer live at home and can’t rely on our parents to care for us like we used to. We’re on our own now while the infinite supply of mucus drips down our nostrils. Responsibilities changed with assignments due that day or needing to find someone to cover the work shift. It’s surprising anyone could do this on their own.
I’m not trying to worry anyone, but it’s good to know that we need to be more aware of our health. It’s important to take care of ourselves and others to stop the spread of dread and sickness. No one wants to deal with more on their plate as everyone is doing their best to get by. Next time someone offers a handshake, be sure they weren’t rubbing their snot on it.
